Main Entry: in·vet·er·ate

Pronunciation: \in-ˈve-t(ə-)rət\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin inveteratus, from past participle of inveterare to age (v.t.), from in- + veter-, vetus old — more at wether

Date: 14th century

1 : firmly established by long persistence <the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious>
2 : confirmed in a habit : habitual <an inveterate liar>

— in·vet·er·ate·ly adverb

synonyms inveterate, confirmed, chronic mean firmly established. inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable <an inveterate smoker>. confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform <a confirmed bachelor>. chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome <a chronic complainer>.